Weekly Top Five: NBA Lockout, Federer, Cliff Lee, and Stats!

Weekly Top Five: NBA Lockout, Federer, Cliff Lee, and Stats!

Each week Stephen Hawking and I will recap some of the bigger stories from the lively week in athletics. It’s a completely original idea that we started over 18 months ago. Every time this post appears, the incredible theme music to John Adams elegantly plays. As always, please remember to be as irrational as possible when interacting with your fellow TBL commenters.

1. NBA Lockout!TSH — I heard some guest on PTI, not sure who it was, say there’s a 75% chance that there will not be an NBA season next year. I love how this lockout has barely begun and we already have writers predicting its fate like Carlos Beltran discussing his latest hamstring injury. Probably best to let this play out for a bit while we worry about the NFL getting the damn thang done.

CRM — I’m not optimistic about any of these work stoppages. Maybe if we hadn’t lost half an NBA season and full NHL and MLB seasons in my lifetime I would have a sunnier outlook, but I don’t. Until someone specifically says, “We are playing” I’m going to assume we’re going to have to find something else to argue about.

2. Stat Fight! TSH — Jonah Lehrer turned the baseball world upside down with his piece on Sabermetrics. My only solution for this is to go to Lionel Kiddie City and turn that frown upside down.

CRM — I stay out of all the stat arguments. Not because I don’t care about the advanced statistics, but because I judge all debates using the eye test and this one seems pretty cut and dry.

3. Down Goes FedererTSH — I thought lucky number seven was on the way but then Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, otherwise known as some dude, got in the way. I had no idea Federer is only 29 years old (30 in August). He’s got a few great runs left in him. He’ll take the US Open in September because winning in New York would make for a dramatic scene in the perfect theatrical backdrop. Why? Because it’s the biggest stage. New York brings the sizzle. That’s why Jordan always played so well here. You may now load your slingshot with a feces-covered rock and fire it in my general direction.

4. Cliff Lee’s Ridiculous JuneTSH — Cliff Lee’s month of June consisted of 42 IP, 1 ER, 8 BB, 29 K, a hilarious ERA of 0.21, and a scoreless innings streak of 32. He has allowed three extra base hits in June*, the least given up in a month since Pedro Martinez in July of 1997. Any time a pitcher has a stat followed by “most or least since Pedro Martinez in 1997” you know it involves something tremendously impressive. [*Courtesy of commenter SouvenirCity]

CRM — You want to talk ridiculous? Cliff Lee and the Florida Marlins both had 5 wins in June. That’s ridiculous. I hate baseball.

5. Reggie Bush’s New GirlfriendTSH — Soccer? No. Hockey? No. Reggie Bush’s new poon? Yes. Seriously, if you were a professional athlete would you ever consider getting married before the age of 40? Reggie Bush just keeps rotating from tan brunettes with large boobs and bulbous asses. His collection of poon trophys is the definition of consistent. I cannot think of a better way for a man to live his life.

CRM — The picture of Snooki usually runs further down in this post, doesn’t it?